Rash's Surname Index
Notes for William PEPPER
WILLIAM PEPPER was born in Philadelphia, August 21, 1843. He was the son of Dr. William Pepper, a distinguished physician of the city, who held the chair of Theory and Practice of Medicine in the University of Pennsylvania from 1860 to 1864. The son was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1862, at the age of nineteen, and from the Medical Department of the same institution in 1864, entering immediately upon the practice of medicine and rapidly taking front rank with the foremost physicians of the country. He was lecturer on Morbid Anatomy in the University in 1868-7, and on Clinical Medicine in 1870-76, and professor of the latter branch from 1876 to 1887, when he was elected to the chair of the Theory and Practice of Medicine, to succeed Dr. Alfred Stille. In January, 1881, he was unanimously selected Provost of the University of Pennsylvania, the dignity and powers of the office being materially enlarged. This post he held until 1894, rapidly advancing the interests of the institution. In the latter year Dr. Pepper tendered his resignation as Provost, receiving unusual expressions of regret from trustees, alumni, students and friends of the University. The department of Archeology, which was one of the important additions to the University created by Dr. Pepper during his term of office, has been the especial object of his care since his resignation. He has accepted the office of President of this department, and under his vigorous administration its free museum of science and art has rapidly risen to great importance and reputation. The collections are of high value, and explorations conducted under his guidance in various countries have been fruitful of results. With characteristic liberality Provost Pepper was conspicuous in aiding all movements tending to the extension of the University, and in a great degree is credited for the Wharton School of Finance and Economy; the Department of Philosophy for undergraduates; the Department of Veterinary Medicine, the School of Biology; the Department of Physical Culture; the School of American History ; the Department of Archeology and Paleontology; the Department of Hygiene and the University Hospital. While Provost, Dr. Pepper had, as at present, one of the largest consulting practices in the country, and at the same time guided and moulded the general policy of the University and its numerous constituent schools. In addition to his duties at the University and his private practice, Dr. Pepper has engaged largely in literary work. He founded the Medical Times, and was its editor in 1870-77. He was Medical Director of the Centennial Exposition in 1876, and for his services in connection therewith was decorated by the King of Sweden Knight Commander of the Order of St. Olaf. Dr. Pepper was largely instrumental in founding the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Arts and is President of the Free Library of Philadelphia, of the Philadelphia Commercial Museums, the establishment and rapid development of which is largely due to his organizing and administrative ability; the Foulke and Long Institute, and of numerous organizations connected with the University. He is a Fellow of the College of Physicians and member and Vice-President of the American Philosophic Society and many other learned organizations, and was President of the Association of American Physicians in 1891, and of the American Climatological Society in 1886. He was President of the first Pan American Medical Congress in Washington, and ,in 1881, Lafayette College conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Laws. In 1888 Princeton conferred the same degree, and the University of Pennsylvania in 1894. Among the important literal works of Dr. Pepper was the editing of the System of Medicine by American Authors, which met with immediate success, and is now recognized as an authority on medical questions. His Text Book of the Practice of Medicine by American Teachers, followed. In connection with Dr. John F. Meigs he published several editions of a valuable work on Diseases of Children. Besides these, his many contributions to medical and scientic literature have been very important.
In 1873, Dr. Pepper was married to Miss Frances Sergeant Perry a granddaughter of Commodore Hazard Perry, and a lineal descendant of Benjamin Franklin. They have had four sons, of whom three survive.
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